4 Reasons to Use Stainless Steel in the Food Industry
Although stainless steel is a popular material used by many industries, we will focus on the food and beverage industry. Because of their food-related uses, parts and components fabricated from stainless steel are ideal for food and beverage equipment. The food and beverage industry relies heavily on these materials. If you need more convincing regarding the use of stainless steel, then we’ve got just the thing for you. Here are four notable reasons to use stainless steel sheet metal fabrication for the food industry.
Food Grade Material
The main reason stainless steel is widely used in the food industry is that it is corrosion-resistant. Its surface is made smooth and hard by a nickel-containing chromium alloy that provides the material with biocompatible and hygienic characteristics required to serve a variety of food and beverage products. It has been estimated that approximately 16% to 18% of stainless steel contains chromium and 8% or 10% nickel, which makes the material useful for a wide range of food applications. Considering that you’re handling food, it’s crucial that you use the best materials available to keep the general public safe.
Easy to Clean Surfaces
Stainless steel is the first choice for equipment used in the food industry, largely because of its easy-to-clean surfaces. This equipment includes industrial food processors, refrigerators, and cookware like pots or grills. Stainless steel is also widely used for kitchenware, from cookers to saucepans to utensils. Since it does not absorb or interfere with the taste of food, it can be kept clean and sanitary. While this may not seem like a huge advantage, saving time that you would have otherwise spent cleaning will allow you to focus on the other aspects of your business.
Mechanical Properties
Aside from being easy to clean, there are also practical benefits to using stainless steel. Stainless steel has many mechanical properties that make it a desirable choice for a range of products in the food and beverage industry. It is strong, durable, can resist high and low temperatures, is easy to shape and form, requires little maintenance or cleaning, and will last for decades while looking great. Stainless steel is an ideal choice for equipment used in the food industry.
Optimal Material for Food Processing Equipment
Processing equipment made of stainless steel is the most common type used in the fabrication and production of food and beverage products, because of its hygienic properties. Chemical compounds and metals in the food can leach into the surface of other materials and contaminate the finished product. Stainless steel is one of the materials approved by many of the world’s regulatory bodies.
Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to furthering your understanding of the usefulness of stainless steel in the food industry. As you can see, there are a slew of reasons why the food industry mostly makes use of stainless steel. Be sure to keep everything you’ve learned here in mind so that you can make the most informed decisions for your business.
For quality metal works in Perth, WA, CSM Fabrication Welding offers the best metal fabrication and welding service. We are located in O’Connor and work with all steel types. Get in touch with us.